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07.24.08, 10:02 AM Preschool/Kids
47 replies
Would it be wrong to not tip camp counselors? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
Preschool/Kids 07.24.08, 10:02 AM Flag
 

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I'm not going to. UB is the only place of heard of this. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:07 AM Flag
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np: i'm not going to either. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:08 AM Flag
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Some camps will send you tipping instructions actually. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:11 AM Flag
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Don't be cheap guys. I can guess your ethnicity, actually. If you have to wonder, why not just tip the kids. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:32 AM Flag
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Norwegian here, tipping is out of control. I was never tipped as a camp counselor and I didn't expect to be. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:44 AM Flag
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what does this have to do with ethnicity? you're ridiculous! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:11 PM Flag
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No. I've never heard of this before UB. Those teenagers get paid more as counselors than any other summer job they might have had [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:08 AM Flag
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so not true. They'd make much more driving the drink card at the golf course or any other service-oriented job. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:10 AM Flag
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I was a camp counselor and a waitress, and was paid much better at the camp (usually $10-12/hr, 8-10 years ago). Service jobs may make $$ in tips but that isn't reliable. Never tip a counselor - that is just teaching today's youth to be more entitled than they already are! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:12 AM Flag
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Then why do camps send out guidelines for tipping if they don't want to encourage it? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:13 AM Flag
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that is really inappropriate, in my opinion. I would write a note to the camp director explaining that I feel that tipping is for excellent service, and unless one specific 16-year-old counselor did something exceptional with my child I would not tip anyone. A camp that employs teachers/childcare professionals should absolutely not be asking for tips. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:15 AM Flag
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It is common practice in NYC, like it or not. camps that provide guidelines are doing so to help and guide parents who do not know what is appropriate. camps also don't want it getting out of control. You can opt out, but writing a letter to the director is way over the top. you need to chill. where do all these entitled people come from anyway? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 06:31 PM Flag
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I've never heard of it. I guess it's an NYC thing. When I was a counselor at a summer camp, 8-10 yrs ago, we only made around $100 a week. But they fed us and we slept there too. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:14 AM Flag
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I'm not tipping mine. They are paid to do their jobs--they aren't waitresses providing personalized service or special touches. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:16 AM Flag
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ITA. And I was a camp counselor [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:19 AM Flag
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ITTTA, so was I. If someone had offered me a tip I think I wouldn't have accepted it [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:20 AM Flag
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OMG. You MUST be in NYC. I'm in MA (used to live in NYC) and that thought hadn't even crossed my mind. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:21 AM Flag
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Next time just flash your boobs. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 10:45 AM Flag
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I was a counselor at a day camp in NY > 20 years ago and about half of the kids tipped $20-50 each. I was elated. I def plan to tip. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 11:51 AM Flag
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wow, thats really unusual [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 11:51 AM Flag
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most of the kids came from Riverdale and Manhattan FWIW. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 12:33 PM Flag
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Camp counselors are paid lousy. I was always under the impression it was customary to tip them or give a gift. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:06 PM Flag
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they're paid better than other summer jobs [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:07 PM Flag
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like? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:09 PM Flag
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hostessing/bussing tables, working at fast food restaurants (teenager jobs), regular babysitting (though depends) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:12 PM Flag
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Then why do we have to pay an arm and a leg to send our kids to the camp? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:09 PM Flag
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do you not tip the waitstaff at an expensive restaurant b/c the bill was so high? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:11 PM Flag
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Tipping at restaurants is expected in the US. Tipping camp counselors? No [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:12 PM Flag
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No, really, I was just wondering where the money goes then. Restaurants have to purchase the food, pay the rent for a good location, etc. Camps that are held at a middle school building that is not in use during the summer otherwise should be putting most of the money to staff. Right? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:15 PM Flag
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insurance would be a biggie [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:47 PM Flag
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liability for the hosting school, primarily. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:53 PM Flag
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it always bothers me. you pay so much to send your kid to camp and the money is going someplace but not to the counselors. so then i feel obligated to tip and then i get annoyed that i have to tip on top of paying for camp. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:16 PM Flag
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I was a counselor at a day camp on LI. We were paid next to nothing - our entire salary depended on tips, which all the parents gave us (though there was a range). Please tip. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:28 PM Flag
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I used to work at Asphalt Green- we were paid horribly and relied on tips. Same with many camps. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:47 PM Flag
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OR: i know that. and i'm the kind of person who hates tipping and doesn't always do it. but the counselors i feel are really taken advantage of. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 02:04 PM Flag
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They are getting paid next to nothing to run around and play with your bratty kids all day- tip them. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:48 PM Flag
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should I tip their teachers at school too? Oh and their doctors and dentists and everyone they come in contact with? I hate jobs that depend on tips - employers should pay a decent wage if it's not don't work for them. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 04:20 PM Flag
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many of my childhood friends were camp counselors. I made much more money at my summer jobs (working at boat yard, stocking groceries, etc.) than they did. They lived for the tips at the end of the summer. That was their spending money for college. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:49 PM Flag
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wow, I worked as a camp counselor for 8 summers and never once got tipped [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:52 PM Flag
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I worked as a counselor at 2 different DC top private schools and was never tipped. Never even heard of it until this thread. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 01:53 PM Flag
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i grew up in suburban philadelphia and went to two different day camps growing up and my parents and my friends parents always tipped - it wasn't a huge amt, but they definitely tipped [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 02:00 PM Flag
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only in NYC! i'm from the midwest and i have NEVER heard of such a thing. but then again, i never knew people hired baby nurses too.... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 03:40 PM Flag
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I was a camp counselor in NJ for 10 yrs... and we always got tipped. The camp sent out guidelines. In 2001, I got about 50$ per kid in my group and 30$ from the bus kids. We expected tips. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 04:15 PM Flag
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I worked at a camp in CT in college, most of the kids were from Manhattan & LI, and camp tuition was extremely high - 8wks sleep away camp. Counselors were not tipped and it was never even discussed between staff to my knowledge. We were paid decent, so I guess it was a non-issue. Looking at it now, my opinion would be if your DB has a great counselor who they developed a special bond with, then tip them because you want to. Don't do it because you feel you have to, rather top where you feel it's appropriate. Obviously it's not a black & white issue, just go with your gut I guess. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.29.08, 07:46 AM Flag
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Our camp sent out vague guidelines, but definitely said tips were expected. This is LI. I feel like it's emotional blackmail if I don't give enough. Will my child suffer the next year? Will the counselors remember how much I gave. I wish it was more black and white - or that the staff pooled tips, or it was based on seniority. Just seems so random. And WHY do I need to tip a bus driver that is hired as a 3rd party from the camp. Seriously. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.16.10, 04:09 PM Flag
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I worked in a day camp and a sleep away camp for 4 years. Our camp had a policy against tipping. Why would you tip someone who gets a salary? It's crazy! I agree..this tipping thing is out of control. These are college students generally, not PhD students [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.16.10, 04:16 PM Flag
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Terrible. My daughter is working at a day camp now. They are not paid much...it is all based on tips. Most of the parents who's kids have left have tipped great. Hope none of her families are on UB. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 08.16.10, 05:44 PM Flag
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